This article is intended for learners who have at least that basic amount of knowledge. It is also intended for more advanced learners who are coming back for a refresher or to fix problems.

We’ll move in order from five major types of irregular verbs—those for which there are some very apparent patterns—to six more difficult (but quite common) verbs.

This article can’t possibly cover all Italian verbs that are irregular in the present tense. The goal is to cover many of the ones that you’re most likely to need, and to do so in a way that helps you identify patterns for easy memorization.

The 5 Big Types of Present Tense Irregularities in Italian Verbs

Present Tense Verb Irregularity #1: Spelling Changes

Some Italian verbs undergo very minor spelling irregularities that may catch you off guard, especially when you’re writing. You may have already used the following verb without ever realizing that it’s irregular.

Ex. Piacere (to be pleasing)

io piaccio

tu piaci

lui / lei / Lei piace

noi piacciamo

voi piacete

loro piacciono

Here, the irregularity is the double consonant (cc), and yes, this is something that Italian speakers can actually hear and pronounce—but it can be difficult for learners to master.

With a language partner, you can practice listening and speaking about pleasing singular things versus pleasing plural things to tease out the difference in consonants between piace and piacciono.

Also recall that this verb is used to talk about liking something, but the subject of the verb is the thing that’s pleasing and the object is the person who’s pleased. So:

Mi piace la fisarmonica. — I like the accordion. (literally, the accordion is pleasing to me)

Io gli piaccio. — He likes me. (literally, I am pleasing to him)

Similar verbs include compiacere(to make happy, appease), spiacere and (to mind) dispiacere(to be sorry, regret; the person experiencing the displeasure is the object of the verb, as with piacere).

Present Tense Verb Irregularity #2: Stem Changes

Some verbs just have relatively minor stem changes that occur throughout a number of the subject pronouns in the present tense.

Memorizing these verbs with their stem changes and present tense conjugations at the same time is rather convenient—don’t wait to figure out the stem changes later on.

The io and loro stem changes are often similar. The noi and voi conjugations often don’t have changes in the stem.

Ex. Apparire (to appear, to emerge, to make an impression)

io appaio

tu appari

lui / lei / Lei appare

noi appariamo

voi apparite

loro appaiono

Here’s what the verb looks like in action:

A novembre appaiono le ostriche nel mercato. — The oysters show up in the market in November.

And note that many of the verbs in the last section also get used as modal verbs.

Present Tense Verb Irregularity #5: Contracted Infinitive Verbs

Some Italian verbs have an infinitive that’s very short, but the conjugated forms are generally longer and follow their own pattern, distinct from the infinitive.

Learning these as a group can be useful. It’s also useful to identify them as contracted infinitives when learning, as they’ll follow a similar pattern when you learn other tenses, such as the present continuous.

Ex. Bere (to drink)

io bevo

tu bevi

lui / lei / Lei beve

noi beviamo

voi bevete

loro bevono

What do you drink and why? Let folks know with this verb:

Bevo soltanto vino rosso! — I only drink red wine.

Beviamo per dimenticare. — We drink to forget.

Ex. Dire (to say)

io dico

tu dici

lui / lei / Lei dice

noi diciamo

voi dite

loro dicono

When learning this verb, it’s important to remember that a C followed by an E or an I has a CH sound, and otherwise it sounds like K.

I’ve had the following two expressions with this verb said to me a lot while traveling in Italy because I’m mildly naughty and/or because of the faux-shocked, semi-conservative posture that Italians love to adopt.

Dici solo stupidaggini. — You say only stupid things.

Non diciamo sciocchezze! — What are you saying! (literally, let’s not say nonsense)

Ex. Fare (to do, to make)

io faccio

tu fai

lui / lei / Lei fa

noi facciamo

voi fate

loro fanno

This nearly all-purpose verb can be translated as both “to make” and “to do.”

The fact that Italian has only one verb for our two English verbs helps explain why Italians often mix these two up when speaking English.

Fare can also be used in all kinds of other ways that lead to different English translations, and is the principal verb in countless expressions.

Il suo piano fa acqua da tutte le parti. — Her plan is full of holes. (literally, her plan makes water from all parts)

Lui fa capo a la sua ragazza per tutto! — He depends on his girlfriend for everything!

Beware of (or enjoy) the fact that alongside a reflexive pronoun, fare becomes a vulgar term for sexual relations. In other uses, it’s not at all vulgar.

Other contracted infinitive verbs include condurre(to drive, to lead), trarre(to pull, to bring) and porre (to put, but not as common as the verb mettere for this use).

6 Very Common, Very Irregular Italian Verbs in the Present Tense

The following verbs are so common that you’ll probably use them throughout every Italian conversation you have.

They’re also the most irregular verbs.

And they’re the most likely to have many sub-meanings and expressions to go with them.

You’ll absolutely want to know all of them very well, and then be alert to the various situations in which they’re used. I’d suggest learning each one and its many uses in separate study sessions, and allowing a lot of time to do so.

5. Stare (to be located, to remain, to be about to)

Sto al mio domicilio a Barcellona tutte le primavere e gli autunni. — I’m residing at my domicile in Barcelona for all of the springs and autumns. (This is a very stiff, formal use of stare.)

6. Uscire (to go out)

io esco

tu esci

lui / lei / Lei esce

noi usciamo

voi uscite

loro escono

This verb takes on both the literal sense of going out (leaving) and of dating someone, among other uses. Examples:

Esco con Raffaella. — I’m going out with Raffaella.

Usciamo da casa alle 19:00. — We leave home at 7:00 p.m.

Taken together, the present tense irregular verbs can seem like a lot to take on and memorize.

I highly recommend using flashcards (or a flashcard mobile app likeAnki) for those that give you the most trouble. These will also eventually start to seem natural through speaking practice and consuming Italian media.

The present tense conjugations of irregular verbs are important not just because they’re used so much, but also because they form the basis for conjugations that you’ll need to study later, especially the imperative and the subjunctive.

The work you do now towards really nailing your irregular verbs in the present tense will give you payoffs many times over as you continue with your Italian studies and start to work with other tenses.

Whatever you do, don’t give up and don’t feel like this subject is something you can skip over.

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